K Line to Merge Two Ship Management Firms

Japan’s shipping company Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K Line) has decided to merge two of its ship management subsidiaries, Taiyo Nippon Kisen and Escobal Japan, on July 1, 2017.

The company informed that the businesses are tentatively scheduled to be renamed K Line RORO and Bulk Ship Management on April 1, 2018.

K Line has opted for the move in an effort “to insure a success of the reorganization of the structure of the group’s ship management system to a further and higher level by consolidation of the extensive experience and valuable know-how” accumulated within the two respective companies.

The new ship management system will “realize more secure and environmental-friendly services that will meet the day-by-day increasing demand for reduction of environmental load toward a sustainable and livable world,” K Line said.

Following the merger, K Line will hold three ship management companies, namely, K Line Ship Management Company dedicated to containerships, tankers and gas carriers, K Line LNG Shipping (UK) Limited, dealing with LNG carriers, and Taiyo Nippon Kisen which would be focused on car carriers and dry bulk carriers.

The company believes that the new management system “will further improve and upgrade future services with higher quality and greater security.”